Lantern



F. W. VINTON.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

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FREDERICK W. VIN TGN, OF EVEEHAVJKEW, HEVJ JERSEY, ASSIGNUR TO THE V. & N. .LANTERN (10., INC, A CGE-POEATION 6F NEW YGPi-K.

LANTERN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed May 6, 1919. Serial No. 295,102.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK VIN- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing in lVeehawken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lanterns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal lanterns of the class in which light may be made to show either white or colored in order to combine, in a single lantern, both a safety and a danger or caution signal, and to permit the signal lantern to be used for general purposes as well as for signaling.

The invention further relates to various improvements in the lantern described in my United States Patent No. 866,242, issued September 17, 1907, for lanterns. The invention relates particularly to improvements in the means for holding the oil font of the lamp in place, the means for raising and lowering the wick, and the means for raising and lowering the auxiliary colored globe for bringing about the change in the color of the light, when the lantern is used as a signal lantern.

These and other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is disclosed; and

while herein minute details of the invention are described, the invention is not limited to these, since various changes in construction and arrangements may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, showing by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lantern, fitted with my device, having the colored globe lowered into inoperative position.-

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing parts of the lantern with the auxiliary globe raised to operative position; 7

Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective view showing the means for supporting and lowering the auxiliary globe; and

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary side elevation showing the lower portion of the auxiliary globe provided with means for holding it in the globe supporting means or carrier.

My invention is shown embodied in a lantern provided with a base member 5, having an inwardly and downwardly turned upper flange 6 (Fig. 2) at its upper part, and an inturned lower or base flange 7 at its lower part provided with diametrically opposite guide openings 8 (Fig. 3) and with upturned seat flange 9, (Fig. 2).

The lantern is provided with the usual top hood 12 (Fig. 1) supported upon a guard frame comprising vertically disposed members 13, 1d, and 15 secured at their upper part to said hood, and near their lower part as at 17, to the base member 5.

Each vertical member is provided with a plurality of perforations through which are passed horizontal wires 18 completing the guard frame.

The upper part of the diametrically opposite vertical members 13 and 14 are formed into perforated ears 20 to which is pivotally secured a handle bail 21 of usual construction.

The main globe 24, which may be, for instance, a plain glass globe, has its upper part received in the top hood and has its lower end formed with a reduced portion 25 (Fig. 2) received in the upper flange 6 and forming a supporting shoulder 26 seated upon said flange.

Within the base member 5, there is disposed a guide cylinder 28 adapted to conform with said base member, and an annular spring housing 29 adapted to receive the helical spring 30 presently to be described. The lower part of said guide cylinder is seated around said seat flange 9 (Fig. 2) and is secured thereto in any suitable manner.

Within said cylindrical guide there is dispose: an oil font 33, provided at its lower end with a manipulating extension 34, and at its upper part with a burner 35, the latter passing through a central opening 36 formed by the inturned flange 37 formed upon the upper end of the cylindrical guide 28. At its intermediate part the oil font 33 is provided with an annular groove 39, adapted to receive the rounded inner face 40 of the clamping springs 42 (Fig. 3) secured to the outer face of said guide cylinder and passing through side openings 43, formed in said guide cylinder.

The burner 35 is provided with a wick raising means provided with a wick raising spindle 45 (Fig. 2), having at its outer end a toothed wheel 36, the teeth of which enturned lugs 61.

gage in a plurality of substantially radial slots 47, (Fig. 3), provided in the inturned flange 37, whereby when the oil font is rotated the wick raising spindle will also rotate to adjust the height of the wick, and the flame 50.

The auxiliary globe carrier (Fig. 3) is slidable on the guide cylinder 28 and com prises a flat main portion 56 having inwardly open side recesses 57 adapted to receive vertical guide ribs 58 formed on diametrically opposite sides of the guide cylinder 28. Said globe carrier also is provided with an upturned flange 60 formed at the outer edge of said main portion and provided with pairs of diametrically opposite inwardly bent retaining lugs 61 and 62 adapted to engage the helical segments 64: (Fig. 5%) cast or otherwise provided on the lower end of the colored auxiliary globe 65, to hold said globe seated, as shown in Fig. 2.

The helical spring 30 (Fig. 2) disposed in said spring housing 39 is compressed between said flat portion 56 of the carrier, and said base flange 7, thereby yieldably holding the globe carrier and globe in raised position. The upward movement of said globe carrier under the action of said spring is limited by a pair of outwardly disposed limiting lugs 67 (Fig. 3) sweated or otherwise secured to said upturned flange 60, and the inwardly perforated lugs 61. The lugs 67 are themselves provided with inturned lugs 68 disposed over and secured to said in- These limited lugs 67 are adapted to engage under said upper flange 6 (Fig. 2), for limiting the upward movement of the globe carrier.

Now will be described the means for lowering the globe carrier and the auxiliary globe against the action of the spring 30. A pair of oppositely disposed downwardly projecting pivotinglugs 7 0 (Fig. 3) are secured to the outer face of said upturned r, flange 60 and are also provided with inturned lugs 31, disposed over and secured to and strengthening the other pair 62 of said inturned lugs of the upturned flange. A manipulating bail 72 has its yoke portion 7 disposed below said base flange 7 and its arms 73 passing through said guide openings 8 and pivotally connected as at 7 5 to said pivoting lugs 70. When the colored globe is in raised position the yoke 74 is disposed under the manipulating portion 31 of the oil font and may be graspedby the hand and pulled downwardly, thereby lowering the globe carrier and auxiliary globe until the pivoting lugs 7 0 project through the guide openings 8 as shown in Fig. 1. lVhen this is done the manipulating bail may be disposed at right angles to the main axes of the lantern and retained by engagement of the yoke 74 in the retaining notch 76 formed in the lower end of the vertical member 13 of the guard frame, said notch thus forming a retaining shoulder with which the yoke yieldably engages and holds the bail at right angles, thus preventing the raising of the globe carrier under the action of the spring, thereby holding the auxiliary globe substantially out of sight, and in inoperative position, so that the color of the light of the flame 50 is not affected by the color of the auxiliary globe.

In order to prevent the shock of sudden upward movement of the globe carrier and globe when the yoke of the manipulating bail is released from the retaining notch 76, the arms of the manipulating bail are provided with outwardly disposed retarding bends 78 adapted to engage the outer edges of guide openings 8 to retard the upward -1novement of said arms and globe carrier and thus avoid any shock to the auxiliary globe.

The operation of the lantern will be easily understood from the foregoing, and now need be only summarized as follows:

If the auxiliary globe is in depressed position as in Fig. 1, the lantern may be used for general purposes as an ordinary lan tern; but if it is desired to use the same as a colored signal lantern, the bail 74 is released from the retaining notch 7 6 and moved to substantially vertical position, thereby permitting the globe carrier and globe to rise under the action of the spring 30, but with its movement sufficiently retarded by the retarding bends 78. )Vith the auxiliary globe thus raised, the light emitted by the flame 50, has imparted to it the color of the auxiliary globe,-Which may be of any desired color depending upon the kind of signals desired, or the use to which the lantern is to be put. The colored globe may be easily unscrewed from its carrier for interchanging or replacing.

As the wick raising spindle 15 is disposed below the inturned flange 37, the oil font may be easily removed from within the cylindrical guide by grasping the manipulating portion 34 and forcibly pulling out the oil font, the spring members 42, permitting the inwardly curved faces 40 to slide from the annular groove 39 whereupon the oil font may be easily entirely removed, for filling the font, trimming the wick, or for other purposes. This can be best done, of course, when the manipulating bail is in the position shown in Fig. 1. Ohviously the oil font may be replaced merely by forcing the same within the cylindrical guide until the spring members 42 snap into engagement with the annular groove 39.

For raising and lowering the wick while the font is in place, it is only necessary to grasp the manipulating portion 3 1 and rotate the font a small distance until, because of the engagement of the toothed wheel 46 with the radial slots 47, the wick is raised or lowered the desired amount.

I claim:

1. In a lantern of the character described, the combination of a cylindrical base member having an inwardly turned upper flange, and an inturned base flange provided with an upturned seat flange; a globe having its lower end received-upon said upper flange; a guide cylinder disposed in said base member to form therewith an annular spring housing and provided with diametrically opposite vertical guide ribs, and having its lower edge seated around said seat flange; an oil font disposed in said guide cylinder and having a burner at its upper end; an annular globe carrier formed with a flat main portion having inwardly opening side recesses receiving said vertical guide ribs, and with an upturned flange formed at the outer edge of the main portion; a helical spring disposed in said spring housing between said globe carrier and said base flange, and yieldably' holding said globe carrier in raised position; an auxiliary globe seated in said globe carrier within said upturned flange;'and means for lowering the globe carrier.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base member having an inwardly turned upper flange and an inturned base flange provided with diametrically opposite guide openings; a globe hav ing its lower-end seated on said upper flange; a guide cylinder disposed in said base member to form therewith an annular spring housing and having its lower edge seated on said base flange; an annular globe carrier comprising a flat main portion surrounding said guide cylinder and an upturned flange, formed at the outer edge of the main portion; a pair .of oppositely disposed downwardly projecting perforated pivoting lugs secured to the outer face of said upturned flange; a spring disposed between said globe carrier and said base flange; an auxiliary globe seated in said globe carrier; a lighting means within said globe when raised; and a manipulating bail having its yoke portion disposed below said base flange and its arms passing through said guide openings and pivotally connected to said pivoting lugs, whereby said globe carrier and auxiliary globe may be lowered.

3. In a lantern of the character described, the combination of a cylindrical base member having an inwardly turned upper flange and an inturned base flange provided with diametrically opposite guide openings; a globe having its lower end on said upper flange; a guide cylinder disposed in said base member to form therewith an annular spring housing and having its lower edge seated on said base flange; an oil font in said guide cylinder having a burner at its upper end; an annular globe carrier formed with a flat main portion surrounding said guide cylinder and with an upturned flange formed at the outer edge of the main portion and provided with pairs of diametrically opposite inwardly bent retarding lugs; a pair of opposite disposed downwardly projecting perforated pivoting lugs secured to the outer face of said upturned flange and provided with inturned lugs disposed over and secured to and strengthening one pair of said retaining lugs; a helical spring disposed between said globe carrier and said base flange, and yieldably holding said globe carrier in raised position; an auxiliary globe seated in said globe carrier; and a manipulating bail having its yoxe portion disposed below said base flange and its arms passing through said guide openings and pivotally connected to said pivoting lugs, whereby said globe carrier and auxiliary globe may be lowered.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base member provided with guides; a globe carrier on said member; a means yieldably holding said carrier in raisedposition; a globe seated on said carrier; and a manipulating bail having its arms passing through said guides and connected to said carrier and provided with bends to engage said guides.

5. In a lantern, in combination, a globe; means for supporting said globe; means for illuminating the lantern; an auxiliary globe movable to position in the interior of said globe for illumination by said illuminating means and movable to position for non-illumination; means for moving the auxiliaryglobe to position for illumination and to position for non-illumination; and means for preventing shock of the auxiliary globe by sudden arrest thereof when moved to position for illumination.

6. In a lantern, in combination, a globe; means for supporting said globe; means for illuminating the lantern; a base member carried by said supporting means; an auxiliary globe movable to position in the interior of said globe for illumination by said illuminating means and movable to position for non-illumination in said base member; means for moving the auxiliary globe to position for illumination and to position for non-illumination; and means for retarding the movement of the auxiliary globe to position for illumination to prevent shock of the auxiliary globe by sudden arrest.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base member having a base provided with guide openings; a globe carrier movable in said member; means yieldably holding said carrier in raised position; an auxiliary globe seated in said carrier; and a manipulating bail having its arms passing through said openings and connected to said carrier and provided with retarding bends to engage the edges of said guide openings to retard the movement of said carrier.

8. In a lantern of the character described the combination of a base member having a base portion provided with openings; a guard frame comprising a vertical member formed at its lower end with an outwardly opening retaining notch; a guide disposed in said base burner; a globe carrier slidable on said guide; a pair of downwardly projecting lugs secured to said carrier; a spring yieldably holding said globe carrier in raised position; a globe seated in said globe carrier; and a manipulating bail having its yoke portion disposed below said base portion and its arms passing through said guide openings and pivotally connected to said pivoting lugs, whereby said'globe carrier and auxiliary globe may be lowered until said pivoting lugs project through said guide openings and said yoke portion is engaged in said retaining notch.

9. In a lantern of the character described the combination of a cylindrical base member having an inwardly and downwardly turned upper flange, and an inturned base flange provided with diametrically opposite guide openings, and an upturned seat flange; a top hood; a guard frame comprising vertically disposed side members secured to said hood and said base member, one of said vertical members being formed at its lower end with an outwardly opening retaining notch; a plain glass having its ends received in said hood and said upper flange;

- a guide cylinder disposed in said base memhousing and having its lower edge seated around said seat flange; a font in said guide cylinder; a burner at the upper end of said font; an annular globe carrier formed with a flat main portion surrounding said guide cylinder and with an upturned flange formed at the outer edge of the main portion and provided with pairs of diametrically opposite inwardly bent retarding lugs; a pair of oppositely disposed downwardly projecting perforated pivoting lugs secured to the outer face of said upturned flange and provided with inturned lugs disposed over and secured to and strengthening one pair of said retaining lugs; a helical spring disposed in said spring housing between said globe carrier and said base flange, and yieldably holding said globe carrier in raised position; a colored auxiliary globe seatedin said globe carrier and having segments engaged under said retaining lu s; and a manipulating bail having its yo lie portion disposed below said base flange and its arms passing through said guide 'openings and pivotally connected to said pivoting lugs, whereby said globe carrier and auxiliary globe may be lowered until said pivoting lugs project throu h said guide openings, whereupon said yolre portionis adapted to be engaged in said retaining notch; said arms being provided with'outwardly disposed retarding bends adapted to engage the edges of said guide openings to retard the upward movement of said globe carrier under the action of said spring. 1

FREDERICK W. VINTON. Witnesses:

F. T. SAss, H. D. PENNEY. 

